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Literacy Education, M.A.
Graduate Degree
Program Overview Request Info Program Highlights Featured Courses Career Opportunities Admission Requirements
Program Overview

Students who cannot read or write face major challenges in developing the skills, knowledge and abilities to take full advantage of life’s opportunities. Teachers who are well-trained in literacy education can empower students and other learners to be well-equipped to seek out information, grasp new concepts, gain a deeper understanding of the world, and build successful careers and strong futures.

Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Literacy Education, a graduate degree program designed to meet the unique needs of literacy professionals. Marshall also supports the vital field of literacy education with this program and a graduate certificate in Literacy Education.

Students in the master’s degree program in Literacy Education will further their knowledge and gain important tools to effectively teach reading across all content areas in the classroom. This specialized Literacy Education master’s degree enables graduates to pursue careers as classroom teachers, literacy specialists and coaches, and Title I literacy teachers.

The College of Education and Professional Development provides an array of degree and professional development programs, continuing education opportunities and services that fully address the needs of adult learners who are primarily fully employed students. The College provides professional/technical expertise for students and is actively involved in addressing regional and state-level educational, mental health and social issues.

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Program Highlights
Accreditation

The College is adept at meeting the needs of adult learners who are primarily fully employed students. COEPD was recognized in 2019 for the best online master’s teaching degree programs. The MA in Literacy Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Flexibility

Literacy Education MA classes are offered online in a hybrid format, using a combination of synchronous (real-time video/virtual participation) courses and fully online asynchronous courses.

Full-time students typically complete this master’s degree program in two years; part-time students complete their Literacy Education MA in two-and-a-half to three years. All program courses must be completed within seven years of the start date with a maintained minimum GPA of 3.0.

Hands-On

The MA in Literacy Education program at Marshall is rooted in extensive field experiences that enable candidates to develop both the theoretical and practical knowledge needed by specialists in the field of literacy education.

Literacy Education MA courses are offered on a semester schedule: fall, spring and summer.

Featured Courses
CIRG 636 - Developmental Reading
Principles and practices of teaching developmental reading.
CIRG 653 - Literacy Acquisition
Literacy acquisition is a foundation course open to professionals whose interests require understanding of the process involved in becoming literate.
CIRG 621 - Current Issues & Problems Reading
A seminar course especially designed to explore problems and issues in reading, K-12. Professional literature, empirical research, and practical experience will be used to identify problems and solutions.
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Career Opportunities
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment in education, training and library occupations is projected to grow 5 percent through 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. About 441,000 new jobs are projected to be added through 2029. Student enrollment is projected to increase; therefore, postsecondary teachers and preschool, elementary and secondary school teachers will be needed to meet the demand. Education, training and library occupations can, however, be affected by state and local budgets, and budgetary restrictions may limit employment growth. Most Marshall graduates with an MA in Literacy Education already have a teaching job. This degree allows them to pursue specialized positions such as literacy interventionist and literacy coach. Marshall graduates are typically employed by County School Boards in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
  • Adult Literacy Specialist
  • K-12 Teacher
  • TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages
  • Early Literacy Specialist